I have had the fortunate opportunity of being born with a disability versus waking
up one day and having my life flip upside down. I often would wonder if would it be
easier to be born with a disability or through some crazy event become disabled.
Growing up I would have this conversation with my sister when I was struggling to
understand why I did not look like everyone else. I remember she would often
tell me “You have been living with this disability since birth you should be used to
it by now. It’s not like you just woke up one day and looked like that” as I got
older and continued to struggle with my disability I wondered two things: does
anyone ever really “gets used to their disability” and two is it easier to be born
with a disability or to wake up and suddenly find yourself a part of the disabled
population. In terms of “getting used to your disability”, I don’t think people in
the disabled population get used to it per se for the most part they develop a sense
of acceptance- this is what is now I have to take the skills and abilities that God
has blessed with and used them to not only honor him but live my life to the best
of their abilities.
Every day millions of people wake up to suddenly find themselves a part of a
new and unique population, a population that for the most part they never imagined
they would be a part of. They are disabled and have no idea how and why they
ended up here or how to handle this new set of circumstances that they are
forced to face. When a person discovers that they have become a part of the
disabled population, a wave of feelings and emotions comes over them hurt,
disappointment, and anger. One of the first things I think a person suddenly
affected by a disability would experience would be disbelief not really wanting
to accept that this has happened to them, along with disbelief there is denial- the
refusal to accept that this is what their life has reduced to. I have often heard
from newly disabled people that it feels like a dream that they can’t seem to wake
up from. Another challenge that newly disabled people have to face is learning
new language-often times a new disability will bring a new set of vocabulary filled
with labels and words that doctors use to try to explain tests and conditions.
Learning to cope with fears doubts and depression could be another challenge a
newly disabled person may have to face. The fear of the unknown brings
about doubts in the ability to ever be able to care for themselves. Fear may cause
depression as seen in an article entitled “When Disability Strikes” written by
Renee Brandi. In this article we witness Renee, a newly disabled person after a
sudden fall out of her bed deal with many of these challenges such as
trying to return back to what they considered a normal life, learning who you are
now compared to who you were for the disability, how do you accept your
disability, what does accepting you disability look like. Lastly financial strain, you
now have to go to the doctors more often or you may have more doctors.
I can speak from experience being disabled whether you were born with a
disability or found yourself suddenly thrown into this community. This is not
the easiest road to travel with tons of bumps twists and turns that we have to
prepare for. I personally have spent a long time trying to find my place in this
world, waiting for the world to give me permission to exist. Until one day I
decided, I am going to create my own way, I am going to stop waiting for permission I
am going to be who God called me to be, and that's what I wanted to help
other disabled people do!